St Johns Postgame Thread

[Junkman]

I know this team is tired both mentally and physically- but I would have liked to see this team try and change the pace of the game. Maybe some full court pressure with Aubrey up top. I get the tired but already mentioned UConn traditionally played only 7 or 8 players. Seeing the same pace all game was frustrating.

I think the difference is that "traditionally" the UConn 7 or 8 would often have a 20 point lead at halftime and would be cruising in the second half, much less mental stress. This years' team is in a dogfight every game.

 

[Blue Huskie]

Instead of blaming the players, how about Geno saying it’s on me.
I need to do a better job getting them ready for the game and to play better defense and to rebound.
I’m a NY Giants fan and they have a top notch head coach who consistently gets the most out of his players. Whenever something goes wrong he says, literally, “It’s on me.” (What he says to the team in private may be totally different, but never publicly blames his players.)

He did. Didn't you watch the entire presser? He absolutely said the Coaches weren't getting their point across. He literally said the coaches did a *t job. But don't discount the value of expressing disappointment with the team. He didn't call them names as some on here have suggested. He pointed out the team's shortcomings which there are. He wants them to prove him wrong down the road. He always looks at the big picture. Time will tell how it plays out.

 

[VA Huskie]

I used to like meg a lot but she was annoying the last few games

Everybody’s annoying when we’re losing☹️

 

[DrummerDee]

How many points did our PG score tonight? Asking for a friend.

She doesn't do it enough for other defenses to even take notice. Untill this becomes the norm, they'll let her shoot all day..

 

[VA Huskie]

I’m amazed at how many are ready to jump off the bridge when we lose. We just won 2 tough games against good or very good teams. We have no bench to speak of. The players have played too many minutes all year. Yes, Geno normally has a rotation of 7. But then he also had a team that wins most games by double digits and can sub the others. Not so this year.

This team rallied to play SC tough. They rallied to beat Villanova twice. Then, in each case they played exhausted In following games. No chicken little, the sky is not falling. Give us a few days off, and maybe some Azzi time, and we can beat anyone on any given day.

Mark my words… you won’t want to play us in the NCAA tournament!

 

[DrummerDee]

Charlie Creme just moved LSU to the last #1 seed. The #2 seeds are Maryland, Utah, UCONN, & Iowa.
He would have moved Iowa to #1 with a win, but Maryland trounced them tonight.

Of course he did. That shouldn't surprise anyone.

 

[housekeys]

My would be advice to CD, AG, DJ and the team in general: keep shoot'n it, keep your head up, do not play scared and DO NOT DEFER to others. These games happen. Some fans understand, others analyze the team to death. Luckily, experts are in charge and not us (self inclusive) fans.

 

[housekeys]

The formula for beating UConn may be complex, but it requires one essential ingredient, "you must play your best on both sides of the ball". St John's did that. UConn played poorly and St John's made sure it was enough to get them their win.

 

[TheGOAT23]

Caroline played like she was still dizzy from the concussion. She missed badly on three critical shots down the stretch.

One of those could have been an easy pass to Edwards, but who knows if she would have made the layup. Just a bad game. On to the next one.

 

[housekeys]

A comment on UConn's play, and not picking out any particular player. UConn is a poor passing team. You can see it in the stat sheet (TO's), but also by how they miss open cutters to the basket. Frequently some great cuts to the basket go unrewarded. The risk of the TO has something to do with that. But, IMO, passing to a cutter is essential and worth the risk. Our passers are too anchored and the passes they try to make, predictable. BTW, assists have more to do with making shots than pass quality, IMO.

 

[freshler40]

We lost tonite because we got some bad breaks It happens we've been running on fumes and it caught up to us. We lack shooters, we've made way to many TOs but we only made 12 tonite. We need to get through February and we can rest. Hopefully Caroline and Azzi come back healthy and with a rested Lou we can win it all. Thats a big "IF" We have 50+ pts on the bench. Right now we have no bench. IF we have a healthy Caroline and Azzi coming off the bench I like our chances against any team

A lot of what ifs here, hope your right and the pieces come together. I didn't see the bad breaks. We did point blank miss a lot of layups at an increasing number in recent games. Several third quarter calls went against us and we didn't seem to play up after that. We also seem to quit on finishing shots with the expectation that a foul would be called. This is three point opportunity but we chose to make faces at the ref as the game plays on............. Things balance out. There was a time when you make your own breaks. We played better then.

A team has to establish it's game early, we haven't lately.
There is still time for this team to come together. We must focus on our strengths and weaknesses. To get better is within our grasp. Come on Huskies pull the sled together!

 

[uconnfan68]

Instead of blaming the players, how about Geno saying it’s on me.
I need to do a better job getting them ready for the game and to play better defense and to rebound.
I’m a NY Giants fan and they have a top notch head coach who consistently gets the most out of his players. Whenever something goes wrong he says, literally, “It’s on me.” (What he says to the team in private may be totally different, but never publicly blames his players.)

And he doesn’t even have 11 NCs!

 

[sdhoops]

Thank you for your interest in UConn wbb.

I've been to all but 2 Final Fours since 2011. I'm a big UConn fan...I rarely post on here. Geno needs to use the bench!!!!..

 

[socal613ws]

this is the type of game Ines shoulda gotten some playing time, I heard all season well maybe they're not ready to play, Deberry another, they might lose the game if they come in, well they lost and hardly any of those play and now on top we don't know how they would have done had they gotten the playing time in the past.

 

[ucbart]

I know I harp on this, but it can't be understated how much Dorka's horrendous FT shooting hurts us in big moments.

She just misses entirely too many FT's.

 

[todbo]

I see Aaliyah's T as a turning point in the game. How did she earn that?

 

[Soxx]

Caroline played like she was still dizzy from the concussion. She missed badly on three critical shots down the stretch.

Yes, and seemed to be hit once again, late in the game, and hunched over.

 

[JBK]

CD picked softer opponents.

Providence - St John’s - Georgetown - used to be very soft opponents as well.

 

[Ralph]

she also had ice on her neck during the game while on the bench. She has something that is not going away. We were waiting for Caroline and Azzi to come back and save us. I don't think it is happening. I think the starting five now realize it as well. Has them discouraged. But still time to rest and regroup.

 

[freshler40]

He did. Didn't you watch the entire presser? He absolutely said the Coaches weren't getting their point across. He literally said the coaches did a *t job. But don't discount the value of expressing disappointment with the team. He didn't call them names as some on here have suggested. He pointed out the team's shortcomings which there are. He wants them to prove him wrong down the road. He always looks at the big picture. Time will tell how it plays out.

Geno is a realist. If you dissect the game or recent series of games, how do you improve???? Good players also do this and relish trying to improve. We have the bones to play against any team and have proved it often. The short bench and managing minutes is the challenge. More determined starts and fewer lulls possible. Don't count us out.

Geno's comments about the coaches says a lot. This is a real concern impacting recruiting, retention and player growth. That area needs a serious review but will have to wait until later in the season.

 

[Ralph]

We lost tonite because we got some bad breaks It happens we've been running on fumes and it caught up to us. We lack shooters, we've made way to many TOs but we only made 12 tonite. We need to get through February and we can rest. Hopefully Caroline and Azzi come back healthy and with a rested Lou we can win it all. Thats a big "IF" We have 50+ pts on the bench. Right now we have no bench. IF we have a healthy Caroline and Azzi coming off the bench I like our chances against any team

that may be what the box score says, but I find it hard to believe we only had 12 turnovers. Seemed like a lot more.

 

[CONNCAN]

This team scored a lot when they were able to run. If not, this 4 high offense is not working when teams pack it in and we cannot shoot.
Nika not much of a threat and I know we all love Nika - but she is a different player when she is not going 100mph. That is where we miss Paige. Better shooter - passer and can drive to the hoop. Defense cannot play off her.
Aubrey lost her confidence to score
CD is hurt.
Teams hold and put their best defender on Lou. so
Dorka is playing guard more than the post.
AE is not effective when their is no room to drive
Ayanna may never recovery from this year
CD had a one good game pre concussion but was mostly struggling and we often were wondering if the surgeries took a toll.
Potential legends have been hurt more than they have been able to play.
I have been thinking how lucky we were to have a Stewie who did not miss many games in 4 years.
Geno’s partner CD has better rotations when she coached this year and the team seemed to relax and flow better -
I do believe this team has one more run in them but it will need a break through.

I believe why Aubrey has lost her conditions her offense could be directly attributable to Geno's failure to continue to instill and express his confidence in Aubrey's game. That was a successful formula earlier this season. Now, Geno will simply pull the plug on Aubrey and will sub in and leaves in Caroline in key stretches of the game. Different players react and perform differently. Just like how CD when she filled in for Geno, played her bench more, instilling confidence in her bench, that is non existent today under Geno.

 

[Pharos]

How much was tonight's outcome on the Players getting outplayed or Geno getting out-coached?

Where it may be coaching is something like this: "Oh, they're playing defense against us this way... Let's try our "counter A"... and then "counter B"... I don't see confidence that there's a "Ok, we got a strategy for that. Let's see what they do with this."
On the other hand how much can a coach do when the problem is fundementals - boxing out, passing back out and re-posting when double or triple-teamed inside, protecting against 3-pointers, driving and dishing, driving to get fouled, not getting beat on the break, keeping both arms up defending inside.... and so on. These are things that have been stressed in practice, surely.
So... head scratcher...

 

[freshler40]

I see Aaliyah's T as a turning point in the game. How did she earn that?

Trough critical call to cut short a good run by us in the 3rd qtr. However, by not grabbing rebound with two hands one had flew out for balance. It was not intentional IMO. Our bigs often do this to our loss of rebounding control or having a turnover. Dorka continues to move well to rebounds when playing inside but increasingly has played outside to provide another three point option. When this happens, not many other players seem to collapse for rebounds. The exceptions are Griffin and CD but they don't establish inside position, just penetrate. Our entire team congregates around the three-point line. We have been badly out rebounded in recent game, a major change from our best basketball.

We have also gotten away from holding and passing a rebound from a very high position. We then pass to a demanding Nika for a dribble over halfcourt and our well scouted half-court offence. This is death valley when we are pressed. Options and unpredictability are the answer but we seem blind to that.

 

[RadfordRam]

Geno is a realist. If you dissect the game or recent series of games, how do you improve???? Good players also do this and relish trying to improve. We have the bones to play against any team and have proved it often. The short bench and managing minutes is the challenge. More determined starts and fewer lulls possible. Don't count us out.

Geno's comments about the coaches says a lot. This is a real concern impacting recruiting, retention and player growth. That area needs a serious review but will have to wait until later in the season.

Kim Mulkey has just as short a bench at LSU, she's making it work. Geno needs to step it up and coach this team.

 

[Conndog]

The injuries have been devastating, but maybe Geno bears some responsibility for “very little supporting cast,” especially at this point in the season. I would’ve hoped, in dealing with season-long injuries, there would be an alternative to what seems to simply be, “play the starters until they drop.”

What’s he supposed to do, play the bench more when up 20 or 30 points in a game? (ahem)

 

[Pharos]

You called it. Was looking for a stress free break (Finally )
They need our support more than ever
We have to be careful
l love Meg but There were times when she was annoying me and she was just doing her job

I think she's calling it as she see's it. She give a compliment for a good play. She gives a critique of a bad play.... for both teams.
If we'd rather have a "homer," what would that sound like?
The song played with under 2 minutes to go - We Will Rock You - epitomized how silly that could be. I cringed because UConn was certainly not "Rocking..." anybody.

 

[Pharos]

By not playing enough minutes to put the Freshman heebie jeebies in your rear window

If only Amari was a freshman...

 

[Majorthreat]

I saw this coming, unfortunately. UCONN gets up for competition like SC even though they lost, Villanova Texas and NC State. For supposed wins, they fail to meet the challenge. Defense was porous on the perimeter and interior and there were a ton of missed assignments.

Aaliyah hasn't played well since the SC game. Maybe the challenge of being an All-American has gotten to her. Her turnovers are atrocious, hands of stone even though she plays with energy. She needs to recognize when she gets the ball in the post and there are 3 people around her. pass to the open person instead of trying to score.
Dorka at 6'5" should have stayed in the low post. (See St. Johns 14 offensive rebounds and 42 total rebounds.) Their tallest player was 6'2" but yet she and Aliyah were on the perimeter catching the ball. She hits the floor more than the basketball and I cringe expecting a broken finger or arm. She should have developed more moves in the low post by now other than the up and under. She was constantly put in switches on the perimeter and was taken baseline
Audrey was non-existent. and wasn't a factor which is surprising since she is our most athletic player
Ducharme played like she still had a concussion.
Patterson the one time she could have made a layup right before the end of the first QTR she picked the ball up on the side of the right free throw lane and passed it. She doesn't even look to score.

We need more speed, athleticism and playmakers. Dorka, Lou, Caroline even Nika are slow and are liabilities defensively. When you need a basket someone has to step up and make a shot and when Lou is doubled or can't get the ball we are doomed. Geno likes to recruit a certain type of player and that worked 10-15 years ago but it doesn't now. Everyone plays the same way we do now and have just as good or better talent.
We aren't even going to win the Big East tourney.
Still see no mention of Azzi. I think has been given a gag order not to talk about her injury. No podcast or anything. Why should she have some incentive to come back to this?

 

[HuskyNan]

I have to agree about the tired aspect. I played college football, which I am guessing was at least as physically draining as college basketball. Since I was basically a teenager, it was pretty easy to recover and I was not completely worn out at the end of the season. Heck, in HS we played “iron man“ (offense, defense, special teams) football and in many games some of us never came off the field. Yes, I was tired after games but played the whole season and playoffs (then a couple week break before basketball season started.) Perhaps my memory is clouded by time, but I don’t remember being completely spent at any time during the three-sport year.

You played 12-15 games a season, 1 a week and most likely only 6-7 on the road.